Lamp shade



May 30 1933..

J. H. ALLEN LAMP SHADE Filed Sept. 21, 1931 Patented May 3G, 1933 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFICE JOSEPH II. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-N'OR T INLAND GLASS WORKS, Illl'l0.,

OI' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CQR-JEORATION'OF ILLINOIS 7 LAMP SHADE Application fi1ed Septenlber 21, 1.931. Seiial N0. 563,957.

This invention relates to lamp shades and particularly lamp shades or globes used f01' street lighting purposes. More specifically, the invention relates to lamp globes of the type which are used for shading the lamps at posts, more especially at street intersections, and which lamps are provided with the names of the intersecting .streets, the

names being rendered legible both at night 19 and during the daytime.

The primary object 0f the invention is to provide a new and improved lamp shade preierably in the fonn of a globe having a portion provided thereon for receiving a resilient band upon which a street name is car- 1ied 0r printed, the globe being constructed and arrangecl t0 engage the band or strip so tl1at the band 01 strip Will be Sprung in positio1i due t0 tbe resiliency of the band or strip and also held in position by the particular formation ofthe globe, said strip 0r band being adapted to be mounted inside of the globe and thus protected from the elements.

Another object of the invention is 130 pro-. viele an improved lamp globe whicl1 has a downwardly tapered circumferential portion 1:0 provide a tapered circumferenbial groove into whicl1 a circular conical band name carrying strip may be arranged, the band being resilient and adapted to be held inproper contacting position with the globe by means of the resilient characceristic 0f the band.

A further object of tl1e invention is to provide a street carrying indicia arranged inside 0f a lamp globe for the purpose o1 protesting the indicia fro1n weather, the globe being provided with a tapering annular groov into Which a conical resilient bandis a1- ranged, gravity tending to hold the band in tightened position in the groove.

A still furt-her object is to provide a translucent lamp globe baving an annnlar transparent portion formed thereon againstwhi ch transparent portion a translucent bandcarrying street nam es is arranged, whereby the transparent portion Will have the appearance of being translucent the same as the band of the globe, but permitting the street names 011 tl1e band to be clearly seen through the 9 transparent portion of tl1e globe.

The :ic cornpanying drawing illustrates a select ed embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as folloWs:

Fig. 1 is a detail sectional viewof the improved lamp globe showing its construcion and the manner in which the name -carrying .st1ip 01 band is carried by thaglobe.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevati0n 0f ehe improvd globe showing the shaded and transl1icent Paris thereof, but hwing the name carrying band or strip omitted.

Fig. 8 isa detail pe'zrspective view of the narne carrying band 01 st rip. 1

Fig. 4is a vievv similar t0 Fig."2, but haV-" ing the na1ne carrying band or 's trip arranged ther6'in.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspeiztiv'e view Of th6 narne carrying band or-strip Showing the manner in which the same cian be deformed 01 bellt f0r the purpos of inserting the saine in position in the globe. V

Tl1e shade or globe 6 may b.e 1nolded out of glass 'and comprises an up per globular p0rtion 7 a lower supporting connecting fiange 01 neck 8, and an interme'zdiate circumferen'- tial pa1t 9, the circumferentiz'zl ortion 01' part 9 being integrally connected to theglobe 7 and the neck 8, as indicated ab 10.and 11 respectively. The connecting portionl0 is so arranged that the raysfrom the latnp l2will not be intercepted and cast a shadow on the circumferential jportion' 9. The circurxiferential;portion 9 exte'nds outwardly a predetermi1ied distance beyond the outer edges 0f the globe .and neck provide a recess or chamber 13 extending circumferentiallyabout the entire globe 011 the inside thereof f0i. the Purpose of receiving a band 01' strip 14 which band 01' strip is for the purp ose of display ing street names. The street namesJmay be applied t0 the band 01 s'c1ip in any partic ular manner, but in the present emb0dimenl; they are shown as being painted 0n the buper Side 15. The entire globe 6, with the exception of the circumferential portion .9, ispr6fefably treated 'as by frostingl spraying, 01' otherwise, in order provide substantially non-glaring, light.difl'nsing charac-teristics, While the circumferenial portion 9. ist left substantially clear and sufliciently trzi'nsln- 1 0 cent, as indicated at 16, so that the characters 17, making up the street names 0n the band 14, may be easily seen through the transparent portion 16.

It should be understood that when I use the tern1 globe, I do not necessarily lnean a lamp shade of spherioal form but any shell- 1ike laxnp sbade is inoluded in the'term.

The band or strip 14 is made of flexible material, such as celluloid, and is sanded 0r otherwise rendered translucent, as indicated at 18, so that, when the band is inserted in the chamber 13, the translucent band Will be seen through the transparent portion16 0f the, globe, thus giving the appearance that the entire globe, including the circumferential portion 9, is translucent. However, the transparency 0f the portion 9, 16 permits the characters 17 painted on the band 14, to be legibly and easily seen. The band 14 may comprise a plurality 01 strips 19and 20 Iastened tog.ether, as indicated at 21, or the band 1nay be made from a single strip of material, as desired. The band is made conical, as elearly shown in Fig. 3, and conforms with the conica1 side Walls 22 of the cireumferential transparent portion 9, 16'. Due to the resilient charao-teristics of the band, the band Will tend to hub the inner surfaces 23 of the side Walls 22 to bring the outer Surface 15 and the characters 17 of the band tight against the Walls, permittihg the characters 17 to b-e legibly and clearly seen through the transparent portion 16. Due to the inclination or conical formation 013 the side Walls of the transparent circumferential portion and the inclination or conical formation of the band or strip 14, there is a tendency-of the band to drop downwardly by gravity'and thus tighten the band in position, causing the outer surface 15 0f the band to hug snugly the inner Walls 28 of the transparent portion.

' The distance betwee'n the upper and lower Walls 24 and 25, Fig. 1, of the chamber 13 may be slightly greater than the vertical dimension 0f the band, thus perrn itting the resilient band to have a slight play in the chamber 13. However, when the band is in position a certain length 01 tilne, the band is free t0drop down a predetermined distance until it is supported on the ledge 26 of the Wall 25.

The band 14 is thus held in tight contacting relationship with the transparent portion of the globe due.to the normal expansible Characteristics of the expansible band'which tends to expand and hug the side Walls and also tends to drop downwardly and tighten itself in position.

A globe constructed in aceordance witl1 tl1is invention is highly efilcient and at the sarne ti1ne presents a pleasing appearance. A translucent globe, especially if'frosted, usually gives what may be termed a milkwhite appearance, and by selecting a separate, detachable sign strip, the background 01 Which is of the same tint or color, and arranging this strip behind a transparent portion of the globe, the appearance of the combined globe and na1ne strip is uniform throughout. In employing this arrangement it is not appar-ent that the na1ne strip is a separate, removable thing. Being 01 the same tint as the body of the globe, the globe presents the appearanoe of l1aving the Street name or other indicia painted directly on either an inner or outer surface 01 the globe.

Indieia painted upon a sign is lnore perfect and pleasing than indicia stenoiled in a sign, because the chara cters may be whole, instead 0f being interrupted, after the. typical mann-er of a stencil. If paint is applied to tbooutside surface of an ontdoor article, such as a la1np globe, rain, hail, frost and dust Will cause the paint to deteriorate, but, by employing the teaehings of the present invention, the indi0ia 1nay be on the inside of the globe, and hence completely protected from the weather. If the entire globe were tinted or pigmented, 'andthe indicia were painted 011 the inside, it is ob*iious tl1at the indieia would not be c-learly visible, because it would have to be Seen through the tint 0r pig1nent. In, the present Construction, 110W- ever, the part 9 is clear or transparent as indicated at 16, forrning a window through whicn the indieia on the strip n1ay be seen.

The indicia is notdimmed in any way, thus in the daytime, particularly when the lighting is from the outside of the globe instead 0f the inside, the indi0ia stands out 1nuch more clearly than it woi1ld in a construction wherein the glass surrounding the indicia was fr0sted 0r contained a pigment. Thus a globe embodying the invention has the appearance, coloring, and characteristics 0f a single unitary and uniform article both when lighted fron1 the outside, as in the daylight, 0r lighted from the inside.

The indicia 1nay be colnplete and positive,

and darker than the background, in contrast to stencilling, being protected from the 'Weather, and is as ole arly visible as if it were applied on the outside 0f the article. The length of the indioia carrying band or strip is considerably greater than the peripheral distance about the opening whether the opening be circular 0r polygonal, and in accordan0e with the invention the transparent portion 16 rnay be 1nade either circular, oval, 01 polygonal.

The entire globe, with its cooperating band or strip, has the external appearance of being entirely translucent, due to the fact that that part of the band which 'shows through the transparent portion of the globe is also made translucent. However, by providing the transparent portion on the globe, the black charaoters 17 on the band can be legibly and clearly Seen. The characte'rs are legible during the day because the black eharacters are directly against the transparent Walls of, the globe, while at night the blaek characters are legible becanse tl1e lamp 12 Will illn1ninate the entire globe, permitting the light rays t0 pass through all portions 01 the globe exce-pt the blacl; characters on the band.

The globe is ornamental in appearance and houses the narne carrying band, thus protecting it from the elements. The band is easily re1noved and replaced thereby eliminating the necessity of re1noving and replacing die entire globe should the street name be con1e illegible 01' the names of the streets be changed. Also, costs are reduced consxderably when new street lamps are installed, as theglobes can be placed on their standards, and, after the entire installation is coxnplete, the bands may be made elsewhere and then inserted in position, it being easier, cheaper, and 1n0re convenient to carry and distribute the bands than it would be t0 distribute the globes marked at particnlar points.

The invention provides a one-piece clearly legible name carrying band 0r strip which is so cons'rructed and arranged that this strip with the na1ne carrying indicia be inserted easily and readily in the small open ing provided in the globe.

Th-e invention provides an attractive, erna- 1nental la1np globe constrncted with a transparent portion so that the characters designating the streets may be readily and legibly seen and which houses the band 01' strip, thus protecting it frorn the weather.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from tl1e spirit of the invention or sacrificing any oi its advantages, and

the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following clai1ns.

I de n0t herein claim the broad subjectmatter of invention relating to the mounting of sign-carrying means within lamp shades as set forth in my co-pending application, Serial Number 512,857, filed February 2, 1931; nor tl1e subject-matter of invention relating broadly to the monnting of t'll edges of sign cards in a groove as set forth in 1ny co-pending application, Serial Nuin1ber 526,944, filed April l, 1931.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A lamp shade cornprising an envelope having an ofi'set peripheral portion, defining an inwardly. openin groove 0n the inside 0f the shade having a transparent Wall portion, and a narne-carrying rnember comprising a continuous band mounted in said peripheral portion behind the transparent wall1aortion of said shade.

2. A lamp shade comprising a translucent portion and a relatively transparent portion,

a translucent mesmber arranged behind the relatively transparent portion, said translucent mernber having a predetermin'ed translucence andcolor bearing a desired relati0n to the color and translucence 0f thetrans lucent portion 0f the larnp shade and indicia formed 0n said member in position to be viewed through tl1e relatively transparent portio1i of the lamp shade.

8. A la1np shade having a. continuous resilient na1ne band arranged in the shade, said shade having rneans forming an internal groove therein f0r supporting the band in position on the interior Walls thereof.

4. A larnp shade having a continuous indicia carrying band rernovably lnonnted on the interior Walls 0f said shade, the shade being forrned with means providing an abutment within the lamp shade f0r supporting the band in place upon the interior Walls 0i" thelarnp sl1ade.

5. A lamp shade, said shade being provided Witli a transparent downwardly ta pered pornion, and a resilient na1ne carrying band conforrning with the shape of said portion and confined therein by the resiliency of tl1e band.

6. A lanap sl1ade having a transparent downwardly tapered portion integral with said shade, and a tapered continuous band conforming with the taper of the transparent portion, said band being resilient, thereby causing the band to spread and contact against the inner Walls 0f the.tapered portion 0f the shade.

7. A lamp shade having an inner circum ferential flange integral with the shade and forming an. internal recess, and a circular na1ne carrying band arranged inside 0f said shade in said recess and contacting Wlfih the inside Walls of said cirenmferential flarige.

8. A larnp shade having a transparent circu1nierential pertion having downwardly tapered Walls integral with the shade and forming an internal recess, and a tapered continnons band confermingwith the taper cf the cirernnferential portion, said band arranged in said ei;:cnmferential portion and maintained in pnsitien therein by the resilient action et the band.

' 9. A translueent la1np shade ha'ving a transparent downwardly tapered circumferential per-tion integ al Wi='h the snade and. forming an inner cirmnnferential groove, and tape:ed continuos band eonforming with ehe taper of tlnje circnmferential portion, whereby the band Will tend to lower itself by gravity and be tigbtened in position in the Cirmnnferential groove.

10. A translucent la1np shade, said .shade beingprovidedwitb transparent downwardly tapered portion, a resilient name carying band eonforming wit-h the'shape oft said pertion and ennfined therein, hereb y tl1e resiliency of tl1e band Will cause the band to press against the face of the transparent portion.

11. A lamp shade comprising an envelope having a liglit diifusing portion, a circumferential portion integral with the diffusing portion, a supporting neck integral wit-h the circurnferential portion, a narne carrying band in said circumferential portion, and rneans to ilhnninatethe interior of said shade, said circumferential portion being connected t0 the diflusing portion by a reversed eurve portion whereby the la1np in the shade Will throw light rays through the circumferential portion and not cast any shadows against the circurnferential portion or the band.

12. A translucent street la1np having a circumferential portion projecting a predetermined distance theretrom and Providing a charnber inside of the shade, and a resilient na-me carrying member insertable in said inner ehamber and removably C011- fined in place by the resilient characteristics of the mernber.

13. A shade having a peripheral channel formingz; a shoulder extending inwardly of the shade, a continuous sign strip of greater length than the periphery of the shonlder whereby the strip when in place Will be retained in position on the shoulder, the strip beinq flexible to enable it to be readily inserted or removed and When in place to utilize the resilience of the strip to keep the same pressed snugly against the Walls of the lamp shade above the peripberal shoulder.

14:. A shade having a peripheral portion comprising an inwardly extending ledge and an outer Wall extending from said ledge, and an annular resilient strip arranged inside of the shade behind the Wall and supported by said ledge and pressed against the outer wall adjacent the ledge by the resilience of the annular strip.

15. A shade having a peripheral portion eornprising an inwardly extending ledge and an outer Wall extending upwardly and outwardly at the edge of said ledge, and an annular resilient strip arranged inside of the shade and pressed against the inside face of said upwardly and outwardly extending Wall by the resilience of the strip.

16. A shade having an inwardly extend ing ledge and an outer Wall extending from said ledge. a strip arranged inside of the globe and bearing against the inside face of said wall said strip being resilient indieia on said strip, said Wall being transparent whereby the indicia on the strip may be seen throngh the transparent Wall.

17. A translucent sliade having a transparent portion, a strip arranged inside of the shade and arranged behind the transparent portion, indieia carried bv said strip, the strip being translueent and substantially the same eolor as the translucent shade.

18. A translucent shade, a transparent portion on saidshade, a strip supported inside of the shade and adapted to be seen throngh the transparent portion of said shade, said strip carrying a plurality of characters, the part of the strip between the characters being translucent and the sa1ne color as the translucent part of the shade.

19. A lamp shad-e having a relatively transparent portion and an adjacent colored portion, a name-carrying strip arranged i1r side of the la1np shade behind the relatively transparent portion, said strip being visible through the transparent portion and having a predetennined color charaoteristic bearing a desired relation to the color of the colored portion of the lamp shade.

20. A continuous name-carrying band, for la1np shades and the like, made of translucent resilient material and having indicia carrying portions tilted with resp-ect to the axis of the band to present the indicia Carried thereon in tilted position, said band having a normal configuration and being compressible to permit insertion thereof through an opening of a lan1p shade of size substantially lese than the expanded size of the band.

21. Information carrying means for C01- ored lamp shades having a transparent portion, comprising indicia bearing strip of a predetermined color oharacteristic bearing a desired relation to the*color of the shade itself, said strip being relatively flexible and resilient so that it may be readily assembler within the lamp shade behind the transparent portion thereof and whioh, when inserted, Will exparid and hu,q the Walls of the la1np sl1ade due to its r-esilience and creae a de sired comparative color efi'ect with the adjacent colored portions of the la1np shade when the strip is behind the transparent portion.

22. Information bearing means for la1np shades having transparent portions, co1nprising a continuous band having oontrasting portions formed and arranged to provide indicia means therein, said band being formed of relatively resilient material so that it may be inserted in a lamp shade behind the transparent portions thereof and When inserted will expand within the shade and against the transparent portions thereof dne to the resilience of the band.

23. Information display 1neans for la1np shades comprising a continuous band provided with indicia means arranged in grou'ps facing a plurality of directions and the band being formed witn one edge longer than the other whereby, when the sa1ne is arranged for display in a lamp shade to present the information for display therein in tilted position to the view of observers facing the lan1p shade, said band being cf flexible inaterial having a normal expanded configuration and being cornpressible to permit inserti0n 0f the band through an opening of the shade substantially smaller than the expanded size of the band whereby the band, after insertion, may expand within the shade to hold itself in place.

24. Information display means for lamp shades comprising a continuous band provided with indioia means arranged therein in spaced apart groups, said band being formed to present the indicia groups in tilted position and being adapted for mounting on a lamp shade in position therein such that the several indicia groups Will be displayed in the lamp shade facing different angular directions, said band being of flexible material having a normal expanded configurat-ion and being eompressible to perrnit insertion of the band throngh an opening of the shade substantially smaller than the expanded size of the band whereby the band, after insertion, may expand within the shade to hold itself in place.

25. Information display means for lamp shades comprising a continuous band provided with indicia means arranged therein in spaced apart groups, said band being formed to present the indieia groups in tilted position and being adapted for mounting on a lamp shade in position therein such that the several indicia groups Will be displayed in the lamp shade I"aeing diflerent angular directi0ns, said band being normally eurved throughout the portion containing each indicia group, said band being of flexible material having a normal expanded configuration and being compressible to permit'insertion of the band through an opening of the shade substantially smaller than the expanded size of the band whereby the band, after insertion, may expand within the shade to hold itself in place.

26. A lamp shade having a transparent portion, a continuous indicia bearing band in said lamp shade, said band being snugly pressed against the interior surfaee of the transparent portion by its own resilience and integral means formed in the lamp shade for supporting the band in position behind the transparent portion of the shade.

27. A continuous name-carrying band, for lamp shades and the like, made of translucent resilient material and having indicia carrying portions tilted upwardly and outwardly with respect to the axis of the band to present the indicia carried thereon in tilted position, said band having a normal configuration and being compressible to permit insertion thereof through an opening of a lamp shade of size substantially less than the expanded size of the band.

28. A lamp shade comprising a translucent Wall portion and an adjacent relatively transparent portion, an indicia-carrying 1nember mounted inside the lamp shade beh1nd said transparent portion, said member compris1ng a band of translucence substantially similar to that of the translucent Wall portion of the shade.

29. A lamp shade oomprising a translucent Wall portion and an adjacent relatively transparent portion, an indieia-earrying member mounted inside the lamp shade behind said transparent portion, the translucent portion 01: said lamp shade being frosted and the member, comprising a translucent strip of material, having a white color characteristic and a translucence substantially the same as that of the frosted portion of the lamp shade whereby when the rnember is mounted behind the transparent portion of the shade the entire shade Will have the appearance of being uniformly frosted both in the translucent and transparent portions.

30. A lamp shade comprising a translucent Wall portion having a distinct coloring and an adjacent relatively transparent portion, an indicia-carrying member arranged inside of said transparent portion, said member being translucent and having a predetermined color characteristic whereby to produce in the transparent portion 0f the lamp shade a desired color eflect.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

JOSEPH H. ALLEN. 

